Organisation Reviews
3The American Ballet Theatre is a venerable institution also known as America’s National Ballet Company. Their stop through Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre proves that it is a title well-earned and deserved. Opening night was a delight of traditional European-inspired ballet that segued effortlessly into sybaritic and passionate dances to the music of Ennio Morricone and the American Songbook via Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. ABT is now under the artistic direction of former principal dancer Susan Jaffe, who worked with legends of dance such as Merce Cunningham, Twyla Tharp, and Jerome Robbins.
ABT enthralls once again in a grandly staged production. American Ballet Theatre’s opening night of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Kennedy Center Opera House topped all other ballet programs this season, though the Ukrainian National Ballet’s “Giselle” was a close second. It was one of those nights where everything came togethe—ABT Principal dancers, Aran Bell (Romeo) and Devon Teuscher (Juliet) performed their parts flawlessly and the Prokofiev score was powerful at times and sweet when needed.
Past Production Reviews
1Not all choreographers are good directors, but Christopher Wheeldon is. Even when dealing with a tricky text such as Laura Esquivel’s magical realist novel Like Water for Chocolate, his is a steady hand. His choreography seems in a telepathic relationship with the melody and mystery of Joby Talbot’s score, while Bob Crowley’s designs, inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragán, give a sense of heat and isolation, and some visually arresting coups de theatre.
